As Toobin observed at the time of Moore’s declaration, “He is not someone who understands the law as the rest of the world understands that he’s got some bizarre fixation about how he alone can interpret state law that trumps federal law, he’s wrong on this. And the only question is, is he going to be forced out of his job again for his own imagination of how the law should be instead of how it is,” alluding to Moore’s removal from the Supreme Court several years ago for refusing to remove a plaque of the Ten Commandments from his courtroom despite its violation of church/state lines.

While viewed skeptically at best by most of the nation, Moore is still admired in some quarters in Alabama. This past week, a group called the Coalition of African American Pastors gave Moore its first-ever “Letter from Birmingham Jail Courage Award” for his stance that his personal interpretation of the law overrides that of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Journalist Kyle Whitmore’s article raises serious questions as to the membership and legitimacy of the Coalition. In its attempt to collect 100,000 signatures opposing gay marriage, for example, the Coalition raised little more than 1,000, according to Whitmore. He also quotes the Washington Post’s Lisa Miller to the effect that the coalition’s president, Rev. William Owens, has been a “front man for an ‘Astroturf campaign’ financed by religious conservatives who want to drive a wedge between African-Americans and the LGBT rights movement.”

“In short,” writes Whitmore, “Owens is a lot closer to Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church than he is to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”

In accepting the award, Moore quoted approvingly from the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1896 that attempted to justify the doctrine of “separate but equal.” It is kind of shocking that Justice Moore and the membership, whatever it might be, of the Coalition of African American Pastors would defend the Supreme Court decision that was overturned by Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, a landmark of civil rights accomplishments.

Moore on Rev. King: “I think Dr. King would appreciate Rev. Owens stand up here today saying that this is another civil right.”

Owens on the threat from same-sex marriage: “Now what about the Christian rights? They tell us what we can do and what we can’t do. They’re ruining our children! It’s not about them getting equal rights; they’re taking our rights.”

Moore on the rights that people lose due to same-sex marriage: “It takes away the very definition ordained of God. Changing the definition destroys definition. It’s not about the right to marry. There is a right to marry in the Constitution, but it’s between a man and a women.”

Owens on how same-sex marriage takes away rights from heterosexuals: “First of all, it’s not natural law. And it’s immoral. It is not natural for a man to be married to a male. It’s not natural. And that’s what this award was about. Dr. King emphasized it must line up with natural law. And if you believe so much that a man should marry a man or a woman should marry a woman, go try it with electricity.”

Owens on Moore: “Although he is not violating any law—he has stood up for the law—he is being persecuted (as if) he were violating the law.”

Pardon us for editorializing, but we lean toward Toobin’s characterization of Justice Moore, and regret that Rev. King’s “Letter From a Birmingham Jail” has been misappropriated for the purpose of attacking LGBT rights.—Rick Cohen

About The Author

Rick joined NPQ in 2006, after almost eight years as the executive director of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP). Before that he played various roles as a community worker and advisor to others doing community work. He also worked in government. Cohen pursued investigative and analytical articles, advocated for increased philanthropic giving and access for disenfranchised constituencies, and promoted increased philanthropic and nonprofit accountability.